Liquid

Whenever I browse through my photo library, I’m shocked by how H2O-heavy it is. Waterfalls, rivers, lakes — I go chasing all of them, it would seem. If I give these images a closer look, though, it’s clear that I tend to focus not on the water itself, but rather on the landscapes and textures it produces. So this week, let’s treat the fluids around us with the attention and respect they deserve.

During a recent lunch in Kyoto, Japan, just moments before the food arrived, our table featured no fewer than four distinct liquids: red wine, sparkling water, yuzu soda, and the water hydrating the lovely flowers whose name I don’t know. I love how they ended up aligned on the table against the dark wall and brightly lit street outside the window (thank you, accidental chiaroscuro!). One second, they make me think of allegorical still-life paintings from centuries past. The next, I just enjoy the way the light travels so differently through each glass.

For this week’s challenge, share a photo of liquid in whatever state, shape, or color you happen to capture it in. You can go as big as the ocean or as small as a teardrop, as clear as vodka or as opaque as milk. Let’s raise a glass to your photos — I can’t wait to dive in.